Recent Clothing Haul

Ok, so I know this isn't beauty-related but on the rare occasion that I do fashion posts, I get a lot of requests for more. Sooo...I thought I'd share some of the things I've purchased recently!

A lot of the items in this post are from Abercrombie which I've rediscovered lately...and before you say "oh hell no", hear me out. I used to love them back in the 90's when they were sort of outdoorsy casual but in the early 2000's they ended up changing their look to focus more on teens and I felt like I was too old to wear anything from there. But just the past month or so, they've totally rebranded and the fall collection was created under Kristina Szasz (formerly of Tommy Hilfiger, Karl Lagerfeld, and Polo Ralph Lauren). I've noticed a big difference in the stores lately...there's no more obnoxious heavy perfume smell and the clothes are decidedly more grown-up (they've decided to keep sister brand Hollister more of a teen retailer).

Let's take a look...

Recent Kohl's Haul

I featured a Kohl's clothing haul on my Instagram stories a few days ago and I got SO many questions on these two items I picked up. A lot of you wanted to know what brands they were and what they were called, so you could look them up on the Kohl's website, so I thought I'd post the links here for you guys.

If you didn't catch my Instagram story before it disappeared, I was in Kohl's earlier this week looking for pajamas or something I could wear around the house at night. Usually I wear leggings and a t-shirt but now that it's fall and very cool at night, I wanted something a little cozier. I'm the type of person that has to put comfy clothes on as soon as I know I'll be home for the rest of the night...I just can't sit around in jeans or anything too stiff (my husband is the complete opposite!).

I found this SO High-Low Hatchi Top ($19.99) and the instant I touched it, I knew I had to have it. It's the softest piece of clothing I own...it has the same fuzzy texture of a cashmere sweater but it's lighter-weight than a sweater which is perfect! Sometimes I get too hot wearing thicker hoodies or sweaters in the house, but I still wanted something thicker than t-shirt material...this is perfect! And SO cozy.
For reference, I got the size Medium (I'm 5'6 135 lbs.). It's not big and loose on me but it's not tight or clingy either...it's just right (just like it looks in the photo above). It has a pretty long length- it hits the top of my thighs in the front, and just covers my rear in the back.
It comes in six colors and I will definitely be back for more!

I also picked up two pair of Sweater Leggings from Pink Republic ($14.99). They come in cute winter/holiday themed patterns that put me in a festive mood (my husband makes fun of them, haha!). They're stretchy like regular leggings but are made out of a really soft sweater material which makes them super cozy! I grabbed two colors in size medium and they fit perfectly.

If you're looking for some really comfy pieces to wear around the house at night, definitely check these out at Kohls! :)

Fall J. Crew Factory Haul | 50% Off

Now that Labor Day weekend is upon us (and there are great sales to be had!), I've started my fall clothes shopping. I know that this isn't beauty related, but there are such great deals at J. Crew Factory this weekend...the entire site is 50% off (no code needed). So I thought I'd share what I got,
let's take a look...

Tops: 

The first thing I grabbed was the Metallic Striped Artist T-Shirt ($17). I'm smaller on top and a little bit hippy on the bottom so I love boatnecks because they make my shoulders look a little bit wider and it gives me a more proportional look overall. I got this tee in Ruby Stripe and also in Navy Stripe (not pictured). They'll look great paired with jeans and flats. 

I love flannels, both on their own or layered under a sweater or jacket, so I picked up the Classic Button Down Shirt in Flannel Perfect Fit ($34.50). I love the fall colors in this one and it'll look cute layered under a rust colored sweater (I already own) with tall boots! 

I also grabbed two of these Cotton-Wool V-Neck Cardigans ($34.50), one in Camel and one in Olive green. They're so versatile and can be worn over just about anything, from jeans to dresses. I'm always reaching for cardigans when the weather gets chilly and I like that these aren't too bulky and they're a great length, hitting slightly below the hip.

Outerwear: 

I fell in love with this Quilted Jacket ($79.50). It's the perfect casual fall jacket for wearing with jeans and boots. I also love puffer vests, and this Herringbone version ($54) is more interesting than the plain one I have but it'll still go with everything. 

Jeans:

I have a pair of J. Crew Factory jeans that I absolutely love so I decided to pick up a few more in other colors while they're on sale. I got the Patriotic Wash Skinny Jean ($42.50) which is a flattering dark color with a little fading, and I also got the Valley Wash, which is a faded gray color. I got them in the 28" inseam, which is perfect for me at 5'6". They hit right at the ankle which is the perfect length for wearing with flats.

Accessories: 
I grabbed this cute burgundy Ryann Crossbody Bag ($39). I think it'll look really great with neutral-colored outfits and add a pop of fall color.

I also got these Anya Suede Ballet Flats ($44.50) in this soft dove gray color. I'm a collector when it comes to ballet flats...I live in them in the fall and Spring and these are super soft and comfortable to wear. I have so many colors...black, beige, brown, gold, snake pattern, etc. but I don't own a color like this and it's so pretty!

Well, that's my haul! Have you done any fall shopping yet?



Affiliate Link Subscribe to The Budget Beauty Blog by Email

Outfit of the Day and My Current Fall Style

I love fashion just as much as I love beauty products, and the change of seasons always brings clothing to the front of my mind, so once in a while, I like to share what I've been wearing. So far, we've been very lucky here in New England...it's been really mild for this time of year and I've only needed to wear a jacket a handful of times. Most of the time, I'm just in a cozy sweater, skinny jeans and flats or boots. 

These days, my style is what I would describe as "classic casual". Some people might consider it "boring" or "safe", but as a stay-at-home mom of a toddler, I value function and comfort over taking fashion risks. But I still like to look pulled together, so I try to select casual pieces that have a nice drape and fit. 

I almost always spend my money and splurge on items like bags, coats and shoes because I wear them every single day and they get a lot of use, so I need them to last and also be comfortable. I always look for classic styles that will last for years...that way, it's not too much of a splurge when you break the cost down per wear. 

But when it comes to clothing, I try to stay within a much smaller budget. My weight is always fluctuating +5 or -5 (or +10 this time of year, haha!) so I'm constantly running into issues with fit, especially when it comes to pants. I don't want to buy expensive, designer clothes only to be rotating them out when they get too snug or too loose. So I try to find items that will look classic, but cost very little. Plus, if I do want to indulge in a trend, I won't feel bad when I give it to Goodwill the following year! 

Forever 21 Fuzzy Turtleneck Sweater C/O ($24.90), Forever 21 Classic Skinny Jeans ($7.90), Kate Spade Emerson Place Carson Quilted Crossbody Bag ($298), Tory Burch Reva Ballet Flats $225 (similar), Daniel Wellington Watch ($199), Chloe Sunglasses (style no longer made, similar ones here). 

My Perfect Summer Bikinis!

I rarely do fashion posts, but when I find something I love, I feel like shouting it from the rooftops! I've been looking for a swimsuit for a month or so and wasn't having any luck. After having a baby, my shape has changed a little bit. I'm back to my pre-baby weight, but my hips are wider now, so finding bottoms that give good coverage is such a challenge! 

Every bikini I found fit on top but even the size large bottoms were too skimpy...even high end suits that cost a fortune. Finally, I ended up at Aerie and oh my gosh...they have every different kind of swimsuit you can imagine! Whatever your personal body issues are, you're likely to find something that fits there. 

For me, I have a totally flat chest and a lot of swimsuit tops make it look even flatter (which makes my top and bottom look even more out of proportion). So I ended up finding the perfect suits for my pear-shaped figure...they have a push-up bra style top and a fuller coverage hipster bottom.  What I love about them is that I don't feel like I'm wearing a frumpy "mom" bathing suit...they're still super cute, trendy bikini's! 

Holly Bikini top and Crochet Bottom, and Brooke Bikini Top and Aerie Hipster Bottom

Read on for more details!

Kushyfoot Flats to Go and Legwear Review

Recently, I was give the opportunity to try some Kushyfoot products. I wasn't familiar with the brand before now, but now I'm so glad I got the chance to try them because they're fantastic! Let's take a look...

My favorite Kushyfoot product has to be Flats to Go ($9.99)! They come in a small plastic package that can fit right into your purse easily.  I wish I had discovered these years ago! Before my son was born, my husband and I used to spend Saturday nights out in NYC with friends and I would always wear heels. By the end of the night (after walking all over the city), my feet would be killing me and I always wished I had brought a pair of flats to wear on the train on the way home. These would have been perfect!

Daniel Wellington Classic Sheffield Lady Watch Review

Purchased by me.

I decided it's time to revive Fashion Friday, which is something I did years ago, posting something fashion-related once a week. A lot of you have commented in the past that you'd like to see some fashion posts and I admit, it's a passion of mine that's right up there with beauty products! So I figured, why not? 

I'm starting the series with something I just got in the mail this week and I'm so excited about it, I can't stop looking at my wrist. It's a Daniel Wellington Classic Sheffield Lady watch. I've been seeing tons of fashion bloggers wearing these and I became a bit obsessed with having one. The past 10 years or so, I've been wearing those chunky, metal Michael Kors watches in a variety of finishes (silver, gold, rose gold, white ceramic) and I felt like it was time for something new. As you'll see, this watch is classic, feminine, and can go from totally casual to dressed up, no problem. 

They're shipped from Sweden and the FREE standard shipping is super fast, mine arrived in 48 hours! It came in a gorgeous stamped black and cream box, with the watch resting on a pillow inside.

Stylit Stylist Pick Outfits 6/5/14

Last week I posted about Stylit, a new website that sends you outfit ideas put together by a stylist every Thursday for free (see my original post here).  I love seeing what outfits they come up with because it always gives me inspiration for putting items from my closet together or seeing what pieces I need to add to make an outfit more interesting.  They usually send a mix of casual and dressed up looks.  Here's their picks for me this week based on my style profile/body type.

I'm loving this week's looks! Check them out...

Steve Madden Look-Alike Sandals at Target

Last weekend while in the Hamptons, my cousin looked at my sandals and said, "oh I have the same ones...Steve Madden right?" and I was like, "nope, Target!"  So that got me thinking, how close of a copy were they?  You be the judge...

Here's the Steve Madden Version called "Stark", regularly $59.99

And here's my version from Target, the Merona "Erin" $16.99- 

Then while I was looking that up, I found more!

Mini Kohls Haul

This morning I went over to Kohls, which is like 5 minutes from my house because I wanted to pick up some more of my favorite H20+ hand lotion and I ended up with a few more things as well...

I've been obsessed with Sugar Cosmetics' Tropic Tan Blush/Bronzer duo ($20 currently on sale for $18) since I worked at Sephora over 7 years ago.  It's a perfect dupe of Nars' Orgasm/Laguna duo and it's HUGE.  There's so much product in here it'll last forever.  ELF makes a duo like this too for even cheaper, but this one is a it better quality.  The powder is pigmented and super soft.  The bronzer is just the right brown, not orange at all, and the blush is the perfect peachy-pink.  Thank goodness Kohls decided to bring this brand back this year because for a while, you couldn't get this anywhere!

Sugar tropic tan blush & bronzer duo

Click Read More to see what else I got...

Forever 21 Haul Part II

I get a lot of feedback from you guys about my fashion posts and you all say you want more, so here goes! Henry and I went back over to the mall today because I still need sandals. If you remember my previous Forever 21 Haul post from last week, I originally went to get sandals and ended up with striped D'orsay flats and a ton of clothes.  So it's a good thing my little man loves the mall!

 I did end up getting my sandals, along with some more clothes...seriously, why are they so cute and so cheap?  My husband isn't going to like the credit card bill when it comes this month.  But...I did lose 20 lbs since having a baby last summer and nothing fits me so that's my excuse and it's a pretty good one, I think!

Here's what I got...

Get a Stylist for Free with Stylit.

I came across a new site recently called Stylit, and it's totally free to sign up. All you have to do is take a fun quiz and their professional team of stylists put together outfits for you and they get emailed every Thursday.  

The quiz is really comprehensive- they ask you to click on pictures of outfits you would normally wear to get an idea of your style, they find out what your body type is and what parts of your body you'd like to play up or down, find out what your budget is and what stores you like to shop in.  

The outfits are then styled for you and include accessories, shoes, even makeup!  I sometimes feel like I don't know how to accessorize well so this really helps me to see what I can pair with an outfit to make it better. 

Here are a few of my favorite outfits from this week- they usually mix casual and dressy styles.

This would be an outfit to wear to a daytime wedding- I love the dress, shoes, jewelry...everything!  And all the prices are reasonable too.

Here's a casual summer outfit- I like how simple and easy it is yet fashionable.

This outfit is pretty basic, and similar to items I already own, but I loved the wedges and bag that they styled it with.

To join, just go to Stylit and take the quiz!

Forever 21 Summer Haul

Today it was pouring rain and we had crazy thunderstorms, so I took Henry, my 11 month old, to the mall with me (thankfully he doesn't mind shopping...yet) and I spent so much time in Forever 21 because they have a ton of cute things on the cheap!  So I picked up a few staples I've been wanting that have a trendy twist like drapey shorts and pants, and some (semi) crop tops- I don't really go overboard with trends, and try to stick to versions that are pretty tame. Still, I love F21 for the fact that I can get trendy pieces without breaking the bank, because who knows if this stuff will be in next summer?

So here's what I got!

I absolutely love this semi-crop top.  I am 36 after all and a mom, but I'm also at my lowest weight in 6 or 7 years, so I don't mind showing off a little.  I like this top because it lets me rock this trend without showing too much.  $12.80

FOREVER 21 Lace & Floral Chiffon Cami

I fell in love with these D'orsay flats and had to have them, even though I was really looking for sandals. How cute will these striped canvas flats look with shorts?!  When I brought them to the register to check out all the sales girls were talking about them and saying they were going to buy them too.  They're beachy, fun, oh yeah, and only $19.80!

FOREVER 21 Sleek Striped Flats

These drapey shorts have lace trim at the bottom, so they can be dressed up for going out at night.  Super cute and comfortable too!  $19.80

FOREVER 21 Lace-Trimmed Woven Shorts

These soft floral drapey shorts are so comfy yet girly at the same time.  They have pockets and also zipper details on the sides.  These are lightweight and will be so much cooler than denim shorts when it's hot outside. $15.80

FOREVER 21 Soft Woven Floral Shorts

I've been wanting a pair of drapey pants (joggers) but everywhere I look they have all these crazy prints on them.  I found a black pair at LOFT that was part of their Lou and Grey line, but they were $70!  Then I went to F21 to see if they had a pair, and they were almost identical in style and feel to the LOFT pants, but were a fraction of the cost.  I cuff these and wear them with flip flops and they look so cute!  They're a flowy rayon material.  Love! $11.80

FOREVER 21 Woven Drawstring Joggers

This tribal print dress has a camisole top and light airy skirt.  I love this style that's fitted on top and flares out at the waist.  $27.80

FOREVER 21 Tribal Print Cami Dress

I loved this tribal print tank top with it's y-back straps.  It's a basic tank but the print adds some flair. $9.80

FOREVER 21 Tribal Print Y-Back Cami

Well that's it for now.  Where have you been shopping this summer?  Any cute buys?

Score! J. Crew Schoolboy Blazer

I've been wanting one of J.Crew's schoolboy blazers for a while now, but I never wanted to spend the almost $200 to get one.  Last fall, they came out with a light grey herringbone one that I was thisclose to buying, but ended up buying a cheaper version that I don't even wear (and now I regret it!).   
Now that fall is almost upon us, I've been thinking about investing in one again. Blazers are something that is so versatile, and can be worn with so many things, that I decided I would probably wear it enough to warrant the cost. 

But when we went to J. Crew, I found that my beloved Schoolboy has been redesigned!  They've added an inch in length to it, and when I tried it on, it looked less casual and more like something I would wear to work (which was not the look I was going for).  

Anyway, last weekend, my husband and I left Henry with his grandparents for the day and decided to do a little shopping.  Since it was such a gorgeous day, we didn't want to spend it in the mall, and went to the Tanger outlets on Long Island.  When I saw J.Crew, I thought that there was a good chance that the original schoolboy would be there since they're phasing it out, and sure enough, they were- and they were marked down! Not only that, but they were 40% off, so I ended up getting this houndstooth one for about $100! 

It looks so good with jeans, a simple white tee, chunky necklace and ballet flats.   They have this on the J.Crew factory website, but it's still $188, so if you're interested in picking up a Schoolboy blazer, I suggest heading to your local J.Crew outlet before they're gone!  Incidentally, the regular Schoolboy's are on sale on the J.Crew Factory website for $148.

Garnier Triple Nutrition Nutrient Spray Review

I haven't had the opportunity to try Garnier's Triple Nutrition Shampoo or Conditioner yet, but I did notice a new Triple Nutrition product when I was in CVS the other day, and decided that I had to try it!  It's called Triple Nutrition Nutrient Spray, comes in a spray bottle, and cost $6.  The thing that attracted me to it was that it has multi layers that you have to shake together to activate the product.  According to the description on the package, it's a mix of three "weightless oils"- 

Olive Oil- To nourish the inner core of the hair.

Avocado Oil- To nourish and soften the middle layer of the hair.

Shea Oil- To nourish and smooth the surface of the hair.

The bottle also says, "Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Nutrient Spray formula combines liquid shine with weightless nutritive oils for the ultimate dose of nutrition. With each spray, hair is instantly nourished, softer, shinier, and easier to manage."  It said that it can be used on either wet or dry hair.

The Dry Hair Test

So the first day I purchased it, I couldn't wait to try it, so I misted a little over my dry hair to see what happened. (FYI, the nozzle lets out just a very fine mist, which I really like, because it keeps you from going overboard with it.)  

First of all, it smells delicious, fresh and fruity. 

It also added quite a bit of shine right away. ( I had no other products in my hair at the time).  

The one thing I didn't like about it, was that an hour or so later, my hair looked kinda greasy.  In the product's defense, I do have somewhat fine hair, so maybe those of you with thicker hair won't have the same problem. 

 The Wet Hair Test.

The next morning, I decided to try it on wet hair.  I used shampoo, then conditioner, and towel dried my hair.  

I misted the product over my hair, using about 3-4 pumps total, then combed it through.  As I was blow-drying I noticed that the round brush I was using wasn't getting tangled like usual, and my hair felt super soft and manageable!  By the time I was finished blow-drying, any nervousness I had about my hair being greasy melted away.  It looked fantastic- it had body and a little shine (my hair is almost never shiny!)  It wasn't shampoo commercial glossy, but it was smooth and frizz free, and it felt amazingly soft!

So, for those of you with fine hair, I recommend using this product on wet hair only.  

Those of you with medium/thick hair, I'd love to hear your comments as to how this works on dry hair and if it makes it greasy or not!

Amanda Seyfried's Cover Girl Look for under $30

 

Amanda Seyfried's gorgeous, natural look on the cover of Lucky Magazine's February 2010 issue was created with Cover Girl cosmetics.  The best part?  The Dear John star's entire makeup look was under $30!

First, makeup Artist Monika Blunder applied Clean Makeup in Creamy Natural $6 to her face. 

She lined her eyes with Perfect Blend Pencil Crayon in Basic Black $5, and blended Eye Enhancers 1-Kit shadow in Tapestry Taupe on her eyelid.  $4

She finished her eyes with Lash Blast Luxe Mascara in Black Emerald. $8

She completed the look with a swipe of Wetslicks Amazement Gloss in Slaphappy $6 to her lips.

 

Cover Girl is available at Target.com. Drugstore.com and your local CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid.